Pilgrimage to Rome - 21st to 27th
September 2008
Sunday 21st September
Following 8am Mass, thirty intrepid travelers set out for Gatwick Airport and a mid afternoon flight to Rome Fiumicino Airport. After an excellent flight we regrouped and met up again with Jan Woodford - our Pax Travel Escort for the duration of the pilgrimage.
Less than an hour later we arrived at our guesthouse for the week - the Casa Santa Maria alle Fornaci (on the left hand side of the church, above) and only minutes from St Peter's. We arrived to be greeted by their patronal festivities and were welcomed by a rousing band playing music one would normally associate more with traditional England, than Italy. Dinner this evening was a local restaurant - La Vittoria - only minutes away from the Guesthouse.
Monday 22nd September
The Lithuanian chapel in the Vatican Grotto
A very early start for St Peter's was called for as mass today was 7am in the Lithuanian Chapel in the Vatican Grotto. The chapel was very simple but beautiful and people were genuinely moved by the simple service. Following Mass it was a quick march back to our guesthouse for breakfast, to be followed by a whistlestop tour of St Peter's - already a mass of tour groups and visitors. We saw the famous Pieta by Michelangelo and the crypt which contains the tombs of several popes, including Pope John Paul II.
After a much sought after siesta (or more walking for the more adventurous - the weather was HOT!), the group enjoyed an early evening visit to a number of churches in Trastevere including the San Francesco in Ripa church and the beautiful church of Santa Maria in Trastevere (above). Our evening meal was in the Al Fontanone and was enjoyed by all.
Tuesday 23rd September.
Another early morning start saw the group visit the beautiful church of San Clemente, which dates back to the fourth century. Below the Basilica are a number of ancient Roman buildings. On the lowest level is a temple devoted to the cult of Mithras, a mystical religion imported from Persia which, in the early days of the Church, rivaled Christianity for popularity.
The Sanctuary of San Clemente
We then went on to St John Lateran (or, San Giovanni in Laterano) - the cathedral church of Rome. Just before Mass a number of the group climbed the Scala Santa - the Holy Staircase - which Christ is said to have climbed at His trial. Mass in St John Lateran's was very special, not least because we were able to have the celebration at the main high altar. The present cathedral dates back to the 1560s; the cathedral, however, was founded by Constantine the Great in the early 4th century.
St John Lateran - outside
Following Mass we travelled to the
Piazza Novona where after a quick
lunch we resumed our 'church crawl' first visiting the beautiful church
of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, (Cardinal Cormac's titular church) which
is one of Rome's rare gothic buildings. Santa Maria was built in the
13th century over what were thought to be the ruins of a temple
dedicated to the Roman goddess Minerva (Athena in Greek). It was a
stronghold of the Dominicans who produced some of the most famous
inquisitors and who tried the scientist Galileo in the adjoining
monastery.
The Sanctuary of Santa Maria Sopra
Minvera
Next, we visited the Pantheon and then the Gesu (above) - the first Jesuit church in Rome; it was built in the 1570s. The much imitated design of the church typifies Counter-Reformation architecture with a large nave with side pulpits for preaching to the crowds. There is one main altar which is very much the centrepiece of the Mass.
Wednesday 24th September - Our Lady of Walsingham
A very early start saw our group take pole position for the weekly audience. We made a banner...
Thursday 25th September
Today we travelled to Subiaco where we had the opportunity to visit St Benedict's Monastery (below), which was built around the Sacro Speco where St Benedict lived for three years. Only two of the original twelve monasteries survive - this and St Scolastica, which is dedicated to St Benedict's sister.
If you are seeking the light Benedict,
why do you choose the dark
grotto?
The grotto does not offer the light you are seeking,
But continue in the darkness to seek the shining light
Because only on a dark night do the stars shine.
The grotto does not offer the light you are seeking,
But continue in the darkness to seek the shining light
Because only on a dark night do the stars shine.
Friday 26th September
Santa Maria Maggiore (St Mary Majors)
Following St Mary's we hastened onwards to our final Basilica of the Pilgrimage - Saint Paul outside the Walls, where the saint is buried. Here the single most outstanding work of art is the magnificent canopy over the high altar and alongside it an impressive Paschal Candlestick dating from the 12th century.
Following St Mary’s we hastened onwards to our final Basilica of the Pilgrimage – Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where the saint is buried. Here the single most outstanding work of art is the magnificent canopy over the high altar and alongside it an impressive Paschal Candlestick dating from the 12th century.
Saturday 27th September
Our final morning saw us visit the Catacombs of San Callisto where we celebrated our final Mass of the pilgrimage. Following this we had lunch in a restaurant on the Via Appia before finally setting off for the airport once again... only to find that bad fog in England had delayed our flight by ninety minutes!
Once again, we had a marvellous week, especially in travelling to some of the major basilicas in Rome. In many ways it was most fitting that our final basilica should be that of St Paul, whose year we are currently celebrating. Once again, many thanks to Fr Colven in leading us throughout the week and for his dignified celebration and thoughtful words at Mass; thanks also to Jan Woodford our Pax guide. So, where are we going next?!
